As you finish charging your iD4, you realize the plug won’t release. Don’t panic! This is exactly what you need to do.
To release a stuck VW iD4 charge plug after charging, try:
- Unlocking the vehicle
- Call the Charging Customer Service Center
- Manually release the plug
In this post, you’ll learn why your VW iD4 won’t unplug and what you can do to fix it right now!
1 Unlock the Vehicle
Whether you have been charging your iD4 at home overnight or at a fast charger, there’s nothing more frustrating than being unable to unplug your charger from your car.
At home
If you have been charging at home, you more than likely have done this through the night, and it’s early morning, and you could definitely do without the extra hassle.
When you go to the car port the light will either be Green – White, or Red.
| Light | Response |
| Solid Green | Charging complete |
| Pulsing Green | Charging in progress |
| Flashing Green | Timer control charging activated |
| Blinking White | Charging in preparation |
| Solid White | No charging happening |
| Solid Red | Faulty charging system |
To unplug your charger, the light needs to be solid green or pulsing green. If this is the case, you should, in theory, be able to unplug your charger.
If you try and remove the charger, the lock will not release. If the car is still charging, you will need to stop charging. Your car needs to be unlocked for the charger to release. Hit the fob 2-3 times. You can also stop the charging on the infotainment screens, but the fob is the quickest solution.
At a Charging Station
The same can be said for a charging station. The charger has to be locked in place. You may be at a mall and are leaving your car while charging. Your vehicle needs to be locked so no one can steal your car. The instinct is to return to your car, grab the charger, and try to remove it.
Your car must be unlocked for the onboard computer to know it’s safe to release. That someone is not attempting to steal your car. Hit the fob 2-3 times, and the car will unlock, the charger will release, and you can return it to the cradle.
You may have pulled the charger too hard on your return, so if it still seems stuck, gently push it toward the car and then try removing it.
2 Call the Charging Station Customer Service
If you are at a charging station (i.e., Electrify America)and have finished charging and tapped your fob, but no release has happened, there is possibly a problem with the charging station. Every Electrify America Charger has a customer service number (1-833-632-2778).
On the top of every charger, there is a number. This represents the location and the particular charger you are plugged into.
You can tell customer service this information, and they can check their end if there is an issue with that particular charger. They can send a signal to disconnect your car.
For your car to charge at a fast charger, the cable from the charger to your car has to communicate with your car’s computer. Charging can’t begin until the onboard computer talks to the fast charger and both units are happy that the connection is safe and secure.
Subsequently, when you finish charging, both ends have to agree that you are done. Sometimes this doesn’t go to plan, and Customer Service has to release it. But what happens when you can’t get in contact with Electrify America? Read on to find out how to release the charger from your car manually.
3 Manually Disconnect Your Charger
There’s always the chance that there is no reply from Customer Service or there is no number posted on the charging station; you may not be at an Electrify America. (You should aim to charge at EA, as all iD4s have Free charging for the first three years – it makes sense). But as I say, you may be at a station without support.
Your charger is stuck. You’ve tried locking and unlocking your car with the fob. You’ve told it to stop charging onscreen, but it still won’t release.
Thankfully VW has a built-in Manual Release system for the charger.
The process looks like this:
- Open the trunk
- On the side that corresponds with your charging port, there is a small round-cornered rectangle outline (in the same material as the trunk)
- There is a small black plastic circle latch
- Turn the latch
- You will have to tear the perforated edge of the rectangle
- Behind it, you will find two pull loops (Usually Yellow, but not always)
- One has a tag, and one doesn’t
- DO NOT PULL THE ONE WITH THE TAG
- This is to disconnect your battery (in the event of an emergency)
- Gently pull the loop with NO tag
- This will manually release the charger
- Replace the rectangle cover and circle latch (To be honest, VW needs to revisit this engineering. It will never sit properly again once you have removed it). It’s not very accessible to view the two loops, especially if it’s dark. Pulling the incorrect one is possible, leading to a bigger problem.
Avoid Charging in Certain Conditions
Certain weather conditions are not suited to charging. Charging at your home usually occurs inside a garage or under a carport, which is not heated but certainly warmer than outside.
But at a fast charger, we are exposed to the elements. This, for the most part, is entirely acceptable, but if the weather is below zero, I advise against using a fast charger. And it’s a definite No if it’s snowing or freezing rain.
Freezing rain is the worst option. However, it is safe to charge while it’s raining. And we know there are plenty of states that have rain year around. As I mentioned, the high voltage will not begin until a complete seal has been made.
Freezing rain, though, can introduce an extra complication. As you connect your charger, it actually freezes in place and can’t be disconnected when you’re finished.
You don’t want to damage anything by pulling it off, which can be problematic. Don’t be tempted to pour anything hot over it (i.e., coffee). You can’t be 100% sure that a complete seal has occurred, and you could damage the connection irreparably.
Some people recommend hair dryers or hot water bottles, but who has these available at a fast charger?
The safest and best solution is to set your car to a precondition. This tells your car to heat everything that needs to be heated to drive, including the charge port.
You may have to wait a while. It may happen a little quicker if you have a jacket to throw over the port, but only if it’s waterproof.
As the car heats up, the charge port will eventually thaw and release the charger. Unless it’s absolutely crucial, my advice is to avoid charging in freezing conditions.
I’ve covered a few of the other common iD4 issues which you hopefully won’t experience, but if you do, we have you covered with these posts:
If you are curious about other EV models, check out the EV FAQ category.
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